Analysis of the Dynamic Balance Recovery Ability by External Perturbation in the Elderly

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the age-related ability of dynamic balance recovery through perturbation response during standing. Method: Six older and 6 younger adults participated in this study. External perturbation during standing as pulling force applied at the pelvic level in the anterior direction was provided to the subject. The margin of stability was quantified as a measure of postural stability or dynamic balance recovery, and using principal component analysis (PCA), the regularity of the margin of stability (MoS) was calculated. Results: Our results showed that in the older adult group, 60.99% and 28.63% of the total variance were captured using the first and second principal components (PCs), respectively, and in the younger adult group, 81.95% and 10.71% of the total variance were captured using the first and second PCs, respectively. Conclusion: Ninety percent of the total variance captured using the first two PCs indicates that the older adults had decreased regularity of the MoS than the younger adults. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that aging is associated with non-regularity of dynamic postural stability.